Fares For Buses Slated To Take A Trip Upward

August 13, 1992|By BILL KEVENEY; Courant Staff Writer

Bus riders in Connecticut's major cities will have to dig up an extra dime or more for the fare box starting Sept. 1, when higher fares take effect on state-subsidized bus routes for the first time since 1983.

The basic (Zone 1) fare of 75 cents will rise to 85 cents, under the plan released this week by state Transportation Commissioner Emil H. Frankel. Fares for longer routes, those ranging from approximately 7 to 30 miles (zones 2 through 4), would rise by 15 cents, 20 cents or 25 cents, depending on the length of the trip, he said.

The new fares will apply to Connecticut Transit, the state-owned company that provides local and express bus service in the Hartford, New Haven and Stamford areas, and to other state-subsidized bus services in the Bristol, Meriden, New Britain, Wallingford and Waterbury areas.

The bus systems in and around those eight places carried about 27 million passengers in 1991 and received operating subsidies of $34.8 million from the state. Frankel estimated that the higher fares will reduce the annual subsidy by about $1 million.

The fare increases were included in Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr.'s proposed budget for 1992-93. The state Department of Transportation has held public hearings and received the legislative approval necessary to institute them, DOT Transit Manager Tom Kirker said Wednesday.

Frankel said the higher fares are needed to help pay for modern equipment and new bus facilities that have been added.

"The state has improved the quality of service. There are new buses, two-way radios and superior training for drivers and mechanics" among other improvements, Kirker said.

For elderly and disabled riders, the new basic fare will be 40 cents, rising to a maximum of $1.05.

Tokens will be available in packs of 10 for Connecticut Transit buses at a cost of $7.50 for the basic service.